Day 50: Kearsarge Pass to Bishop

The water is glass that reflects the mountains by the lake. We hike through the rocks until we reach the top of Kearsarge pass. A dark lake is beneath us. I wonder how deep it is!

We hike down the giant rocks. We pass a lake and then walk through a path bordered with stone.

A waterfall rushes down the rocks.

Town day today!

We walk down and down until we reach the parking lot.

Bumper, Rafiki, Luxy, and Voyager immediately get a hitch in. I opt to wait with Dad. The driver can only fit four.

While we wait, some people provide tacos for trail magic!

I’m a bit anxious we won’t get a ride. I go around asking people if they’re headed to Bishop — a long drive — and end up giving up.

One driver drops off some hikers. He tells us he can give us a ride. We begin to put our packs in when he says, “I’m going to Independence.”

“Oh, we’re heads to Bishop. Thanks, though!” Dad says.

The man pushes. “It’s an easy hitch to Bishop from there!”

“We’re alright, thank you,” Dad says.

“It’s a really easy hitch,” the man says.

I don’t know why he’s so pushy, but we’ve been offered by two other people for free rides to Independence.

I feel discouraged as I wait. I imagine the others are there, lying in comfy beds or out to eat.

The sun is bright as we sit near the privy’s. I see other hikers, some who I’ve met and some who I haven’t.

A woman pulls up and drops off some hikers.

She’s going to Bishop!

I squeeze in between three other hikers as Dad sits up front. We get the tour on the way down. Until recently, hikers had to walk an extra seven miles on the road to hitch in the winter! I’m glad we avoided that!

We arrive at the hotel. I’ve been in contact with Rafiki, trying to arrange a place to stay over the phone with bad service.

It looks like not much has happened here, so I didn’t need to be anxious over anything.

We drop our stuff in Rafiki’s room and begin some chores.

We have dinner at a brewery, where I get to sample a lot of beers.